The National Council for Community Behavioral Health recently introduced an online Resource Center for Primary Care and Behavioral Health Collaboration at www.TheNationalCouncil.org/ResourceCenter. The Online Resouce Center Includes: Resources and guidelines for working with FQHCs Integrated care models and screening tools Report on "Person-centered Healthcare Homes for Persons with Serious Mental Illness" National Council Magazine on behavioral…

"Unforseen Benefits: Addiciton Treatment Reduces Health  Care Costs", is a study published by the Open Society Institute detailing how effective addiction treatment will contribute to containing costs in reforming the U.S. healthcare system, as well as yield better healthcare outcomes.      Click here to read the publication. This study will also be available in the CBHC Library in…

The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools published this study made possible by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  It is a valuable resource for information on mental health screening and assesment of the immigrant and refugee population in the United States; a population that makes up a significant portion of…

 "A definition for “Federally Qualified Behavioral Health Centers (FQBHCs)” was included in proposed federal legislation for the first time yesterday. The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, which has championed the creation of FQBHCs, commends Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) for introducing the definition in an amendment passed by the House…

The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing is now posting the new Preferred Drug List (PDL) that becomes effective July 1, 2009.  This PDL applies to Medicaid fee-for-service clients.  It does not apply to clients enrolled in Rocky Mountain Health HMO or Denver Health Medicaid Choice.  To view the new PDL, CLICK HERE.

The most recent addition to the CBHC Online Library is a study published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Addministration (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services titled, "Reimbursement of Mental Health Services in Primary Care Settings." Click here to read this publication in its entirety and to see other items in Healthcare Integration/Coordination Section of…

"A new report which coincides with Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day reveals that 8.2 percent (2 million) youths aged 12 to 17 experienced at least one major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year. Only about two-fifths (38.9 percent) of these adolescents received treatment during this period according to the report by the Substance Abuse…

Mental Health America and the Colorado Trust have jointly release a new study examining suicide rates and trends in Colorado and evaluating the progress of prevention and intervention efforts based on other reports released within the last ten years.  To read this publication, click here.  This link will also be available in the CBHC Library, listed…

Research and support for the integration of the mental and physical healthcare systems has been on the rise in recent years.  The Federal Legislature, as well as many of their state counterparts, are backing legislation creating parity, or equitable insurance benefits, for mental health treatment services.  Systems and institutions that have been operating entirely exclusively from eachother, are now learning to…

"About half of all mental illnesses arise by age 14. A new guideline asks pediatricians to be on alert."  This article from the U.S. News and World Report, by Lindsay Lyon, draws further attention to a newly highlighted importance on screening youths between 12 and 18 for signs of mental illness, after increasing evidence demonstrates the…